Phones have been an integral part of our life. Phones are the things, which receive our last gaze before sleeping and first gaze after being awake. And during the run, we do not want to back off from its company. Cleaning chores, morning walks, or restrooms, its company remains intact. We sanitize ourselves by taking a bath or by using a sanitizer. However, we barely clean our phones. So, the habit of using toilet papers for cleaning phones is being practiced in Japan.

Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus mycoides are the bacterias, which are assumed to be found in phones. The former is infectious if it makes contact with the breached parts of our body. This bacterium invites Skin infections, Food poisoning, Bone and joint infections, and Bacteremia. The later one is generally found on pesticides, which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi.

Toilet papers for cleaning phones, the title itself sounds hilarious. However, this step is to ensure hygiene in our life. It is believed that a phone carries five times more germs than a toilet seat. And the untiring companionship with our phone has made us vulnerable to the infection. NTT Docomo, a mobile phone operator in Japan is the one to raise this awareness. To ensure this awareness, NTT Docomo has been responsible for the installation of 86 stalls of “toilet papers for cleaning phones” dispensers in the seven restrooms of Narita International Airport.

These toilet papers were brought with the slogan of “wipe before you swipe”. Unlike the regular toilet paper, the toilet papers for cleaning phones are smaller in size. A separate dispenser is installed in the restrooms to hold the roll of such toilet papers. With the introduction of these toilet papers, Docomo wishes a hygienic travel for the visitors. The toilet paper consists of a welcome note to the Japan visitors and information about the Docomo Wi-Fi and Jspeak app, which is travel guide app with voice translation developed by Docomo.

In the year 2016, we’ve seen the death of many in the tech world. It started with the death of Project Ara – Google’s Modular Smartphone at the very beginning. Then Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 7 in the third quarter of this year. Then it was recalled and replaced but again it was recalled shortly. This is how Note 7 died forever. Google killed the Nexus line-up and went with the Pixel phones instead. OnePlus stopped manufacturing OnePlus 3 after few months from its release and came up with OnePlus 3T instead. And when the year was almost ending, Cyanogen Inc. shuts down the Cyanogen OS and its services forever. It really is a tragic moment to see the most customizable version of Android being killed.

But for those who were following news about Cyanogen Inc. for a little while, it wasn’t a surprise. It started with the staff layoff then was followed by the exit of its CEO as well as the co-founder. The end of Cyanogen Inc. was reasonable since OEMs decided to not go against the Google’s Android eco-system. Very few OEMs went with the Cyanogen OS and many discontinued soon after. For Instance, One Plus did go with the Cyanogen OS for the OnePlus One but later went with its own Oxygen OS for later phones.

For those wondering what will be the impact of this shutting down of Cyanogen OS and its services, if you’re using a phone powered by Cyanogen OS then you won’t be getting future updates. Yu Yureka, OnePlus One or ZUK Z1 are the widely sold phones running on Cyanogen OS. However, Cyanogen Inc. will be making the open source project and source code available for those who want to build CyanogenMod on their own.

There is very little known about what Cyanogen Inc. will be working on. It is expected to build Android OS modifications for parts manufacturers hereafter.

Yes, folks. If you have been waiting to buy a phone but were confused about where and which phone to buy, wait no longer (except few days)! Because starting from 28th December 2016 until 3rd January 2017 (a whole year), you will be getting best offers from your trusted shops in New Road. As a different kind of Mobile expo is happening in Pako, New Road. The expo is going to be organized by Nepal Mobile Business Organization (NMBO). The official announcement about the expo was done yesterday at a press conference at Hotel Annapurna.

About Ncell New Road Mobile Expo:

The three-day long event (from 13 Poush to 19 Poush 2073) will be happening in Pako, New Road. Since the expo is organized by Mobile Retailers, there will be no stalls except for NCELL’s(the main sponsor)– the shops themselves will be like stalls. So, it would be more like visiting a normal mobile shop in Pako, but with special discounts.

Additionally, there will be food stalls beside Bhugol Park and a gaming zone inside Bhugol Park. According to the organizer, people can also participate in mobile gaming competitions during the event.

To make the event more interesting, the organizers have planned to put a stage at Pipal Bot, New Road. According to the spokesperson of the event,  cheerleaders from different mobile brands will be entertaining the visitors. Plus, there will also be live music in the evening.

Features of Ncell New Road Mobile Expo:

1. With every mobile purchase, the customers will get 1 NCELL SIM card free with 100 MB of data pack.
2. Customers will be eligible for a lucky draw with every item purchased– the lucky draw gives away smartphones every day!
3. Touch and Feel Experience of mobile phones so that you can try all kinds of phones before purchasing.
4. The official launch of Zopo and Leagoo smartphones.
5. Special Discounts on mobile phones and accessories.

How is Ncell New Road Mobile Expo different?

Well, first of all, this expo is managed by mobile retailers. Secondly, it is happening at Pako, Tamrakar Complex and People’s Plaza at Newroad –the largest mobile hub of the country. Lastly, it is all about Mobile and mobile accessories!

About Nepal Mobile Business Organization (NMBO):

NMBO is an organization of mobile retailers. The organization currently includes more than 500 mobile retailers and will be expanding in the future.

Finally, we will have to wait until the start of the event to see what the event will really offer. What do you guys think? Are you planning to buy anything?

In recent years, mobile phones have been a part of our everyday life. Some of us depend on our mobile phones for our everyday chores– we use mobile phones for our business transactions, banking services, searching directions and playing games. Also,  I won’t be wrong if I say that there are some people who have displaced their computers with mobile phones.

The increase in functionality and technological advancement of mobile phones have certainly made our life easier. Also, this has made mobile phones so popular, even in a developing country like ours. According to MPIA (Mobile Phones Importers Association), the business of mobile phones is the third most valuable commodity in Nepal.

Furthermore, with so many people changing their mobile set every year, it is no surprise that mobile business is just behind Petroleum and Iron in Nepal in terms of the transaction. According to sources, the mobile phone sector sees an annual growth of about 40 percent. And, it is estimated that there will be a transaction of over 36 billion rupees in this fiscal year.

With so much mobile being transacted yearly, the business of mobile phone has certainly helped a lot in the economic development of Nepal. However, there are still some challenges like growing gray market. Similarly, in my personal opinion, the taxes on mobile phones, are also too high. Since communication is a basic need these days, don’t you guys think our government should lower tax on the mobile phones? If good mobile phones were as cheap as it is in our neighboring countries, the sales would rise even more– at least I think so.

What is your opinion? Let us know in the comment section below.

Gone are the days when you have to sacrifice your sweet dreams and be in the line in the middle of the night in the pursuit of submitting license application form. In order to save you from this trouble, online service for the submission of the license application form is going to get started. As informed by the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), this service will come effectively from this Sunday i.e. 25th of December, 2016 (2073 Poush 10). As per the DoTM, this service has been put forward with the primary purpose of crowd management in the line for the submission of the form.

According to the DoTM, the Engineering works regarding the project is being carried out in Singha Durbar after the software installation process. And as informed, there will be a formal inauguration of the system this Sunday.

How to submit the form?

The online service will come effective after the inauguration process. And informed by the DoTM, the form submission process involves the following procedures:-
1. Click on this link
2. In this page, you can see a photo like this.

3. Click on “Online Driving License Form”.
4. After clicking on “Online Driving License Form”, you will be taken to another page, where you will have to provide the information in the required fields.
5. As you are done with the form filling process, click to submit information.
6. For every submitted form, the applicant will get a document. The document should be printed. The document contains the time and place, where the photos and fingerprint procedure are done.
7. As you are done with the above procedures, you are good to go with the license exams.

For every submitted form, a unique time is provided, which helps to reduce the crowd. DoTM has put forward this project for the crowd management during the time of form submission. However, if this service comes effective, not only the employee of the Management will get relieved from the workload but also the public will be saved from the trouble of being in the line since the late night. However, this service will be currently centralized in the Kathmandu valley only.